Hello & why are the geese going the wrong way? (1 Viewer)

[mark baxtrem]

Morning all my 1st post but a lifelong lover of birds of all types!

Skeins of Canada geese are repeatedly flying over my area (ne eng & half a mile from coast) and seem to be going in the oppersite direction to that that I would expect.

I read years ago that CG are resident all year round and winter in inland waterways - that should suggest a short hop 75m or so over to the lake district from here; but they are all flying at 180 deg to this - are they massing for an eventual reversal or/and is this normal.

I have seen no evidence that they are grouping up anywhere locally & given my proximity to the coast they have precious few places to hide - after 1 mile east from my house it's staight on for germany and the low countries.

Cheers

Bax.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Welcome to BirdForum Mark. In eastern Scotland, where Canada Geese are normally quite scarce, we regularly get groups of them moving north in around June and back south in August/ September. These are thought to be birds from northern England (I think Yorkshire) that migrate to the Moray Firth to moult during the summer. It might be that the birds you're seeing are migrating from Scotland to Yorkshire. There will certainly be Canada Geese moving through your area at the moment anyway.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Bax and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I've moved your post to the Bird Behaviour forum, as I think you'll get better input there. I've also subscribed you to this thread so you don't lose track of it.

I hope you enjoy your time here with us.

 

[mark baxtrem]

thanks for the reply - still none the wiser mind - for anyone with google maps - have a look at saltburn by the sea n/e eng. - the birds appear flying from inland and fly over my house and towards the pier in a straight line - and i am a mile from the coast. - straight west to east - a straight line drawn from the pier will eventually hit germany - the little bit above the low countries and below denmark!
as the birds aren't going to the beach where are they going and what are they doing?
are they going to a waypoint and then turning around or left or right?
and whilst we are on the subject of boids - has anyone ever gone upto an apparently healthy crow (in a tree) and stroked it - now that was wierd and beautifuyl all at the same time!

bax

 

[nickderry]

your geese are probably not migrating but perhaps moving between feeding and roosting sites. What time of day are you seeing them moving?

 

[mark baxtrem]

Je vais regarder à nouveau et vous conseiller - mi après-midi je pense.

 

[delia todd]

Je vais regarder à nouveau et vous conseiller - mi après-midi je pense.

Translation: I'll watch again and advise mid afternoon I think

Mark, please note all posts must be in English!

 

[mark baxtrem]

May wee!

 

[davercox]

Mark, please note all posts must be in English!

or Scots ...

 

[mark baxtrem]

started to see a reversal today - east to west which is what my ancient copy of the rspb b.o.b. suggests is "normal" - facinating to observe and see nature operating - would welcome any thoughts on the crow story - that was something else!

 

[mark baxtrem]

another couple of skien this time heading wsw - dark here too - i wonder if the visual clues for nav. are better at night - teesside must look like a christmas tree from above at this time of night.

 

[nickderry]

Looks like if they're moving in all directions then they are local birds just moving from one place to another, from safe roosting areas to good sites to feed.

Delia - excellente traduction! I mean excellent translation :t: